This is a dose escalation study to determine the maximum tolerable dose of Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein, PTHrP, or Parathyroid Hormone, PTH, that can be given safely over one week in healthy African-American volunteers. The investigators plan to infuse low doses of intravenous PTHrP or PTH to determine if it leads to a sustained and progressive suppression of bone formation as occurs in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) or an increase in bone formation as occurs in hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Additionally, the investigators will assess the direct influence of PTHrP and PTH on vitamin D metabolism, markers of bone turnover, and fractional excretion of calcium. These results will be compared to previous studies of Caucasian volunteers.

Subjects receive PTHrP(1-36) starting with doses of 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr for one week. Subsequent dosing groups are determined by the response to PTHrP doses.

Drug: Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein (1-36)

PTHrP (1-36) intravenously at 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr for one week; doses will be increased by 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr in subsequent subjects.

Other Names:

PTHrP(1-36)

Bone anabolic agents

Drug: PTH (1-34) and PTHrP (1-36)

This is a dose escalation study to determine the maximum tolerable dose of Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein, PTHrP, or Parathyroid Hormone, PTH, that can be given safely over one week in healthy African-American volunteers. The investigators plan to infuse low doses of intravenous PTHrP or PTH to determine if it leads to a sustained and progressive suppression of bone formation as occurs in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) or an increase in bone formation as occurs in hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Additionally, the investigators will assess the direct influence of PTHrP and PTH on vitamin D metabolism, markers of bone turnover, and fractional excretion of calcium.

Other Names:

Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein (1-36)

PTHrP(1-36)

IND 49,175

Parathyroid Hormone (1-34)

PTH (1-34)

IND 60,979

Experimental: PTH dosing group

Subjects receive PTH(1-34) starting with doses of 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr for one week. Subsequent dosing groups are determined by the response to PTH doses.

Drug: parathyroid hormone (1-34)

PTH (1-34) intravenously at 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr for one week; doses will be increased by 2 picomoles (pmols)/kg/hr in subsequent subjects.

Other Names:

PTH(1-34)

Bone anabolic agent

Drug: PTH (1-34) and PTHrP (1-36)

This is a dose escalation study to determine the maximum tolerable dose of Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein, PTHrP, or Parathyroid Hormone, PTH, that can be given safely over one week in healthy African-American volunteers. The investigators plan to infuse low doses of intravenous PTHrP or PTH to determine if it leads to a sustained and progressive suppression of bone formation as occurs in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) or an increase in bone formation as occurs in hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Additionally, the investigators will assess the direct influence of PTHrP and PTH on vitamin D metabolism, markers of bone turnover, and fractional excretion of calcium.

Healthy African-American subjects of both sexes between the ages of 24-35 years, who are able to spend one week on the Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Montefiore.

Those taking chronic medications (except oral contraceptive pills (OCP's) or stable doses of thyroid replacement) or those who have received an investigational drug in the past 90 days will also be excluded.

Prior participants in PTH or PTHrP studies will not be eligible to participate.

Additionally pregnant women and lactating women will be excluded; all women will have a urine pregnancy test performed immediately before starting the study.

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01333267